In the conversation for Sunday, February 25, 2018, Pastor Stuart Nice shares with us that faith has a flip side. Even though we rejoice in hope, trusting that everything will be ok. We must also recognize that following Jesus will have its difficulties and risks. When we follow Jesus beyond the suffering we also discover the resurrection life as well.

Sacred Reading 00:00-11:45, Conversation 11:45-48:29

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.Luke 9:23 (NIV)

Sacred Reading

A note about the recording of the Sacred Reading:The reader will pause between each of the four readings. The pauses have been left in the recording so that the listener can experience the rhythm of the gathering and even participate in the reading. Below are the guidelines for each of the four readings of the practice.

Read: Read the passage and receive it as God’s message to you.

Reflect: Read the passage again and look for the word or phrase that the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart.

Respond: Take the highlighted words and make them a prayer.

Rest: Rest your heart on God’s promises.

And Jesus said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? Luke 9:22-25 (NIV)